City and KIF Orebro seal partnership deal

Glasgow City and leading Swedish side KIF Orebro have entered into a groundbreaking agreement for Scottish Women’s football.

After initiating talks some 6 months ago about establishing a partnership agreement between Glasgow City and KIF Orebro of Sweden, and following a recent trip by Head Coach Kate Cooper to the Swedish town, a 7 strong delegation from Orebro spent last weekend in Scotland with Glasgow City to seal the agreement, which will run initially to 2010.

The fundamental basis of the agreement will see the clubs work together in 3 main areas:

  • Establish joint camps for training and games

  • Implement a player exchange programme

  • Establish coach development workshops

The clubs are now looking at their respective calendars to prepare the first of a number of joint camps which will see both clubs spend time together training and playing games with an emphasis on both player and club development.

The agreement will also see an exchange programme for players being implemented with the chance for players from each club to spend some time with the other, giving the players an opportunity to experience playing and training in another country.

Thirdly, the clubs will look to have their coaches spend time together observing and participating in each other’s training programmes with the main focus being on coach development for both sides. The clubs are also in discussion regarding the coaches of both teams attending a major championship finals, where the group can study matches and spend time on exchange of ideas and best practice.

Glasgow City are absolutely delighted to have entered into this agreement, which will be the first of it’s kind for any British club, and once again puts the Glasgow club at the forefront of Women’s football with its innovative ideas.

City Manager Peter Caulfield expressed his pleasure at the agreement when he said, “This is an idea unrivalled anywhere in Britain and we are both delighted and excited at working closely with a club of Orebro’s calibre. Boasting a host of International player’s from various countries, Orebro is a club moving forward quickly and is a club with fantastic organisation off the pitch, which we hope we can learn from. With the recent appointment of Richard Holmlund, the former manager of Women’s Cup winners Umea, the Swedish club are also demonstrating the level of their ambition with this very astute appointment.

“Having guided Umea from mediocrity in the Swedish league, to being the number one women’s club side in the world, Richard is a coach who has seen and done it all and we are extremely excited about the opportunity to work together.

“With a manager of this calibre now on board the future looks extremely bright for Orebro, who will be hoping to push closer to the top of the league in the 2008 season and everyone at Glasgow City wishes them well.”

16.11.07